John Mayer went to Montana

Two years ago he was a tweeting, blogging, pissing, insufferable douchebag. And he admits to it. Then he did what so few of them have the courage to do: John Mayer promised to go away and...he actually went away. John Mayer was sick of himself. John Mayer was sick of how he’d been affected by fame. John Mayer paid attention to and agreed with the critics who called him that loser from high school intoxicated by newfound popularity, thrashing around like a goddamn fool. So he left to figure it out. (Jonah Hill would do well to learn from this example.)

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know I had no kindness for John Mayer. He didn’t deserve it; he was a dick. John Mayer is back now promoting a new album. Humbled by bad press, and some physical challenges, the version who is presenting himself to us now seems contrite and sincere (enough)...even to me.

Here’s what he told Ellen DeGeneres earlier this week:

John: I just sort of lost my head for a little while. I remember one time when I was a kid, I went swimming and I closed my eyes and I kept swimming and swimming and came up out of the water and I was way past the buoys and the life guards were blowing me in.…I kind of lost touch and I didn’t want to ask for directions. I did a couple of some dumb interviews and it kind of woke me up.

Ellen: Is that what it is? The interviews? Because you got a lot of attention for the Playboy interview and I don’t know what else but is that when you kind if went, oh, you were not proud of that...

John: Oh yeah, I don’t even remember having a Rolling Stone cover. It was a very strange time and it sort of rocketed me into adulthood. It was a violent crash into being an adult. For a couple of years it was just figuring it all out and I’m glad I actually stayed out of the spotlight. Because I think back then I would have said, give me two weeks or like let me get out and do “Ellen” and let me explain myself. It was like no, idiot. Go away be 33 and 34 instead of 28 for the 4th year…

I’m also attaching the video of this part for the body language to go with the words.

I mean, it’s John Mayer. John Mayer still loves talking about John Mayer. He’s never NOT going to love talking about John Mayer. John Mayer is never going to become selfless. He is a celebrity. Still, we can’t call them out for not taking accountability and then not acknowledge when they take accountability. We can’t criticise them for being too afraid to leave the game when it gets overwhelming and then not appreciate the ones who do bravely - exiting the spotlight for them is considered brave, trust me - step away from it for a long stretch. It’s not only unfair, it traps you in a snark rut.